Tray.



No. '855,565. PATBNTED JUNE 4,1907.

I J. (#512515Housm- TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1906.

WITNESSES: I INi NTOR Allorney UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE,

TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @1164, 1907.

Application filedSeptemher 19,1906. Serial No. 335,238-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN GREENHOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at (ambridge Springs, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trays; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trays for carrying bottles and tumblers; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan. view of the tray. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line mm in Fig. 1.

The tray is provided with two plates or disks A and B. These two plates are simi larly shaped and their center parts are similarly dished. These plates are preferably circular in form, but they may be oval or of other approved shape, and their surfaces may be ornamented by engraving, embossing, or in any other approved manner.

()ne plate A is provided with a body portion 0 which connects it with the other plate B, and holds the two plates parallel with each other at, a prearranged distance apart. This body portion 0 is preferably tubular, and the plate B is provided with a tubular portion D which is slidable in the said portion C. If desired however the body portion C may be permanently connected to both plates in any other approved manner.

The plate B is provided with holes or openings E in its surface in which bottles or tumblers can be placed, so that the said articles rest on the plate A, and the plate B forms a distance piece which prevents the articles from sliding. As many holes or openings as desired may be rovided, and a portion of the surface of tl'iie p ate B may be without holes so that bottles and wine-glasses may be carried. When wine-glasses alone, cake, or similar small articles, are to be carried, the

tray is reversed, and the said articles are placed upon the outer surface of the plate A.

Each. plate A and B is provided with a similar projecting flange, a and b res ectively, which affords a good grip for the ha d in car rying the tray. The body portions 0 and 1) project from the middle parts of the flanges a and b respectively, and the dished portions of the plates A and project toward each other.

The tray is preferably formed of some light and thin metallic plate, aluminium being preferred for this purpose.

j The tubular and slidable formation of the body portion of the tray enables the plates to be taken apart so that the internal space between the plates can be cleaned, and so that the plate A can be used as a tray or waiter by itself if desired. The plate B may be provided with one or more tubular distance pieces 9, if desired, to stiffen the dished surface of the middle of the plates and to assist in holding them parallel.

When the body is formed of two portions C and D which are secured to the middle parts of the flanges of the tray and at a little distance from the dished portions of the plates, the said body prevents the flanges from being distorted, as it comes where the pressure'of thev hands is greatest in carrying the tray. The projecting portions of the flanges prevent the hands from slipping, and the fingers and thumbs extend into the dished portions of the plates so that a firm grip can be obtained.

The holes or openings E are preferably provided with flanges or projections for the tumblers or bottles to engage with. These projections preferably consist of downwardly projecting spring tongues e which hold the bottles securelyin position. These rojections may however be omitted if desired.

What I claim is:

1. A reversible tray, comprising two dished plates'having flanges at their peripheries, each said plate having a body portlon projecting from the middle portion of its said flange, and the said body portions being plates being provided with guide openings for slidable one within the other and holding the articles, and a distance piece arranged besaid plates parallel with each other, and one tween the dished portions of the said plates of the said plates being provided with guide which project toward each other.

5 openings for articles. t In testimony whereof I have aliixed my 15 2. A reversible tray, comprising two signature in the presence of two witnesses. dished plates having flanges at their periph- JOHN GREENHOUSE, eries, a body secured to the middle parts of Witnesses;

the said flanges and holding the said plates H. B. RHODEs,

10 parallel with each other, one of the said JOHN D. GOLMER. 

